Food allergies can make life extraordinary stressful for parents. Parents are forced to make major diet and lifestyle changes to cater to their child's needs. They also have to constantly worry about their children's safety, both at home and while out and about - even for a simple trip to the corner dairy.

Did you know?

If a child has a food allergy, it is not limited to what they eat. Touching or smelling something they are allergic to can cause a reaction as well.

A smear of peanut butter on the skin or near the skin for a child allergic to nuts can trigger a severe reaction.

Something as simple as inhaling powdered eggs in a bakery for a child allergic to eggs could be life threatening.

It is important to read food labels, every food, every time. If a product is manufactured in the same factory as a product that contains allergenic foods, an allergic child cannot eat it for fear of cross contamination The following mums talk about what it's like to live with an allergy child and share some of the things they have to deal with on a daily basis. One message they all stress is that 'just a little bit' can not only hurt their child, it could potentially kill them.

Some mothers feel having a child with allergies is like walking in a minefield. Having to deal with EpiPens, creams and medicines with reluctant children can be an ongoing stress.

With young children, having to monitor their food, especially at parties and public places can be difficult. There is the complication of not wanting your child to feel left out, while knowing they need to be careful or there can be dire complications.

Parents of children with allergies learn to be great planners and organisers. They are able to advocate for their children and excellent at reading labels of everything.

Some children with very severe reactions can limit a family's lifestyle. Parents of these children need to be careful where and when they go out and socialise.

Changing the way you do things like cooking more things form scratch and helping to educate the other people in your children's lives about safe food and items can help alleviate the stress of the situation.

Many people do not realise the implications of not following your requests to the letter, thinking a little bit won't hurt. Children on the other hand, while sometimes feeling a little bit left out or self-conscious for being different, are great adapters and can generally adjust to a new diet faster than we can.

If you have a child with severe allergies, who has been invited out, offer to provide some special party food just for them to make them feel better.

There are extra expenses in raising a child with severe allergies that can cause a drain on the family finances. While funding covers many items, specialist appointments are generally not covered.

If your child is diagnosed with celiacs, you can investigate prescriptions for gluten free food.

When you have a child with an allergy coming to your next birthday party or over to play, there are ways you can help to reduce the anxiety for yourself and the child's parents to ensure the experience is safe and enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few ideas:

If you are hosting a birthday party, ask the parents in advance what food their child has allergies or intolerances to. Ask the parents if they have an allergy-free recipe you might be able to use, or invite them to bring something along. Consider offering non-edible treats as prizes or in loot bags.

If your child has a friend over to play, ensure the environment is as safe as possible. For example, if a child has an egg allergy, don't use egg cartons for painting, don't use eggs if baking, and don't visit a bakery as they may inhale the egg powder in the air. If you're not sure, tell the parents what activities you have planned and they can let you know if anything is potentially dangerous.

Wipe down any table and chairs, and toys the child might come into contact with to remove traces of food - this is especially important for children with anaphylaxis as the smallest trace can set off a life-threatening reaction.

Remove any leftover food from play areas and childproof the pantry door or food cupboard in the kitchen to remove any temptation.

Ask the parents for a list of what the child must not eat and check if there is anything you are unsure about or if the food is known by a different name. For example, milk is also known as casein.

Ask the parent to go through a safety plan with you so you know how to recognise and deal with an allergic reaction. Some children may require an adrenaline shot (EpiPen) in the case of a severe reaction or anaphylaxis - decide if you are willing to do this, and get the parents to show you how to use the EpiPen.

Get a contact phone number of the parents in case of an emergency.

Talk to your own child about the importance of not sharing food before any little visitors arrive.

Try not to make the child feel special or different, but instead create activities that allow them to join in.

Remember; don't be afraid to ask - the child's parents will be grateful if you do!

If you want more information, contact Allergy New Zealand www.allergy.org.nz

Article by Rachel Goodchild

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